What were the issues involved in the Thirty Years War?

Answer 1

The Thirty Years War in Europe was fought in the years of 1618 to 1648. This war was the bloodiest one ever seen in Europe up until that time. The war's issue originated as a religious conflict between Catholic & Protestant rulers. The Protestant military leader was Gustavus Adolphus, the King of Sweden. The Hapsburg kings of Austrialed the Catholic forces throughout the war. In the final stages of this long war, the Catholic Bourbon rulers of France opposed the the Hapsburg rulers of Austria & Spain.

The Bourbons, although Catholics, saw an opportunity to gain more power by supporting the Protestant forces. Now the issues were control of territory not so much as a religious issue.

The 30 Years war was fought mainly on German territory

Finally, in 1648 a treaty was devised to end the war. The Treaty of Westphalia, created the following:

1. France remained Catholic and gained most of the territory known as Alsace;

2. Sweden remained Protestant and gained territory in Northern Germany;

3. Catholic & Protestant rulers in the rest of Germany gained the right to determine the religion of the people they ruled ( Protestants were at this point in time in Europe were either Lutheran or Calvinist ); and

4. Protestant Holland & Switzerlandrecieved recognition as independent countries.